From: Interfaith Working Group
Subject: IWG Promise Keepers TV Coverage Letter
Date: Sun, 18 Jan 1998 22:38:55 -0500 (EST)
The following went out on IWG letterhead listing 12 congregations and
organizations and 54 clergy from 15 religious traditions. If you are in
the general Philadelphia area and represent a congregation or religious
organization or are clergy, let us know if you want to be added - all faiths
are welcome. We will also be happy to help start similar organizations in
other areas.
An identical letter will also be sent to the Channel 10 News Director
January 16, 1998
Jeff Bartlett
News Director
KYW Channel 3
Independence Mall East
Philadelphia, PA 19106
Dear Mr. Bartlett:
Your 11:00 pm newscast on January 15 incorrectly
stated that the protesters at the Promise Keepers
clergy conference were upset about their exclusion of
women. This mistake was made even though the story
included footage of Barbara DiTullio criticizing
Promise Keepers for not mentioning equality for women;
exclusion and inequality are not the same. What the
story ignored altogether were the many other issues
raised by clergy at the press conference conducted by
Equal Partners in Faith: the promotion of distinct
gender roles; the focus on reconciliation between
disparate groups rather than equality between them; the
effect on churches of having men's groups that answer
to an outside organization; and the attitude concerning
homosexuality and non-Christian faiths, especially
Judaism. Those in the leadership of Promise Keepers
also have historically been involved in supporting
conservative political causes and organizations,
another point ignored by your story.
The issues raised at the press conference had
nothing to do with who was present at the clergy
conference (it was very well known that women would be
admitted). These issues were raised because Promise
Keepers makes statements that are in direct
contradiction: they claim to be non-political, despite
the track record of their leaders; they claim not to be
sexist while claiming that men should lead and women
should defer to men; and they claim conquering racism
is a major focus of the organization while failing to
promote programs that would truly foster economic
equality for minorities. And finally, they have
portrayed themselves as a general Christian men's
movement, despite the fact that many Christian men and
women and people of other faiths are troubled by these
contradictions and feel that the theology of Promise
Keepers excludes them.
Reporting on any one of these disagreements, or
stating that there were many points of contention,
would have made a more accurate story.
Sincerely,
Barbara Purdom Christopher Purdom
Interfaith Working Group Coordinators
--
Interfaith Working Group Religious organizations, congregations
iwg@libertynet.org and clergy supporting gay rights,
http://www.libertynet.org/~iwg/ reproductive freedom, and the
215-235-3050 separation of church and state.